Musical Theater Master Class

Colleen Kelly Beaman is a third generation member of the famed Irish-American Kelly showbiz family which originated with her grandmother, Harriet Curran Kelly, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in the early 1930s and gave us such notable entertainment personages as her father, Fred Kelly, of Broadway and uncle, Gene Kelly of Hollywood.

Colleen's career as a dancer began in the New York City area, studying and teaching at Fred Kelly Dance Studios. According to family lore, Colleen began tap dancing at age two when she appeared on stage with her celebrated father, Fred Kelly. By 16, she had appeared as a stand-in for Barbara Streisand in "Hello Dolly" and for Patty Duke in "Me, Natalie." At age 20, Colleen relocated to Tucson and attended the University of Arizona where she received a BFA in Theater/Music and a Master's Degree in Education. She embarked on a career teaching students to "dance Kelly style" and earned her Educational Doctorate in 2000.

Today Colleen is the standard bearer of the Kelly dancing tradition and her talents as an instructor are widely sought out. She teaches dance classes to young and old alike, throughout the Tucson area and across the United States and Canada. Her choreography has appeared in New York, Pittsburgh, Dallas, and Toronto. She was adjunct professor at Pima Community College in Tuscon and served on the Young Audiences of Southern Arizona Advisory Board. In 2001, the Dance Council of North Texas paid tribute to her for her lifetime dedication to the art of tap dancing.

Ms. Beaman will be teaching choreography from "Singin' in the Rain," so bring your own umbrella! She will also stick around for a 30-minute Q & A on what it's like to "grow up Kelly!" Proof that the movie musical is alive and well!